Good News for Wisconsin Places on America’s 11 Most Endangered List

The National Trust for Historic Preservation publishes an annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places with the goal of raising awareness of these vulnerable properties around the country, which are at risk of irreparable damage or destruction.  The list has included over 300 sites since 1988 and has been highly successful at galvanizing preservation efforts.

Two Wisconsin places have made the list in recent years: Milwaukee Soldier’s Home (in 2011) and the Mitchell Park Domes (in 2016).

For more: Save the Soldiers Home

Milwaukee Soldiers Home

Milwaukee Soldiers Home—the most intact original VA campus in the nation and a National Historic Landmark District—after long years of deterioration, has experienced a dramatic turnaround.  In March of this year, six of the historic buildings, including the spectacular Old Main, have been refurbished and reopened as supportive housing for veterans at risk of homelessness.  This success was the result of collaboration between local partners and heightened publicity from the National Trust and Milwaukee Preservation Alliance.

But three other historic structures on the campus—the 1889 Chapel, 1881 Theater, and 1868 Governor’s Mansion—remain vacant and endangered. The Milwaukee Preservation Alliance received a 2020 National Trust matching grant to fund a study into viable reuse strategies for these buildings. The study will serve as a resource for the VA to develop an RFP (Request for Proposals) for the rehabilitation of these remaining treasures. This should ensure that successful reuse and preservation extends to the entire campus.

For more: Save Our Domes

Mitchell Park Domes

After its 2016 designation on the National Trust 11 Most Endangered list, Milwaukee’s Mitchell Park Domes has received an outpouring of support from the community.  The #SaveOurDomes campaign succeeded in raising awareness and it appears that demolition of the beloved Domes is off the table.  But despite that, subsequent progress toward concrete measures has been slow. Reports, studies, recommendations, and materials testing have been done and the County has committed to funding allocations for final analysis.  But the funds were not spent in 2020 and progress in 2021 has been slow.  Efforts continue to heighten public awareness and to push for definitive long-term action that will save the irreplaceable Domes.

Kegel’s Inn Named One of Nation’s 25 Historic Small Restaurants

Kegel's Inn
5901 W National Ave
West Allis, WI 53214
(414) 257-9999 | kegelsinn.com

Kegel’s Inn has been honored as one of 25 historic small restaurants in the United States. The National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express designated the restaurants as historically and culturally significant.

Each restaurant will receive $40,000 through the “Backing Historic Small Restaurants” Grant Program. Funded by American Express and administered by the National Trust, the grant will help “enhance restaurant exteriors, build new outdoor seating areas, and upgrade online business to help mitigate operating costs as they work to recover from the financial impacts of the pandemic.” 

This is good news for Kegel’s Inn, which has been serving traditional German food at the same location since 1924. The restaurant was established by John T. Kegel and his wife Anna Bevc and is still operated by the Kegel family today.  

A Soft Drink Parlor
Born in Austria in 1892, John T. Kegel immigrated to the United States in 1911. He married Anna in 1915 and in 1918 they moved to West Allis. After working at various jobs, John was ready to start his own business. He hired contractor Roy Nordstrom to build the original structure on National Avenue. John and Anna established Kegel’s Place in December 1924 as a soft drink parlor. Similar to other soft drink parlors during Prohibition the Kegel family brewed beer in the basement and surreptitiously brought in other liquor.

Figure 1: Pictured: John Kegel Open for Business in His “Soda Pop Parlor” | Source: Kegel’s Restaurant

Things went smoothly for a time as most of the neighborhood population was German and Kegel’s fit well into the local drinking culture. Plus, the beautiful leaded stained glass windows provided some concealment of the interior space.

Figure 2. Anna Kegel’s Arrest for Liquor Possession

But the good times were over when, on May 1, 1927, state agent J. Rupnik apprehended Anna Kegel for possession of non-intoxicating liquor (figure 2). With both luck and a good attorney, Kegel’s Inn was spared the fate of being shut down as so many other soft drink parlors had been. Interestingly, in the following year, Wisconsin ended its official enforcement of Prohibition, five years earlier than the Federal annulment of Prohibition.

Expansion and A New Name
Shortly before Prohibition was officially repealed in April 1933, the Kegel family took over the west half of the building and significantly renovated it, including an addition to the south. Described as the “largest tavern built since the return of beer,” the renovation was done by Milwaukee architect Mark Pfaller/ Pfaller Architectural Associates, Inc., the oldest continually operating family-owned architecture/engineering firm in Wisconsin.

German interior design artist Peter Gries hand-painted all the murals inside the restaurant. The exterior was designed in English-inspired Tudor Revival style with a Lannon stone veneer. The construction took a little over a year. The restaurant reopened on August 26, 1933, renamed “Kegel’s Inn.”

Figure 3. Murals behind the Bar by Peter Gries | Source: Kegel’s Restaurant

Historic Past, Strong Future
Kegel’s Inn was listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places in 2010. After nearly a century and many ups and downs along the way – including the COVID-19 pandemic – Kegel’s is going strong, retaining its original building, Gries’ delightful murals, and the famous German food and beer - including its popular Friday Fish Fry and outdoor Beer Garden. Kegel’s Inn is most deserving of its historic accolades.

Figure 4. Exterior of Kegel’s Inn after renovation
Source: Kegel’s Restaurant

Figure 5. Present Façade of Kegel’s Inn
Source: Wisconsin Historical Society

Learn more about Kegel’s Inn

American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation Announce the 25 recipients of the “Backing Historic Small Restaurants” $1+ Million Grant Program. Reference page

 Wisconsin Historical Society, Architecture and History Inventory. Reference page

 A Rich & Storied Past - Kegel's Inn. Homepage

What Does Historic Designation Mean in Wisconsin? Explaining the Three Levels

 There are three levels of historic designation in Wisconsin:

1. Federal

2. State

3. Local

This article will explain what each designation means for a property and the differences between them.

The National Historic Preservation Act & The National Register of Historic Places

In 1966, The National Historic Preservation Act was passed by the Federal government effectively establishing the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as the official federal list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that are worthy of preservation.

It also required each state to establish a preservation plan and an office for historic preservation, called the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). National designation as a historic property is an honorific. The intent of the act was, and is, to affirm historic preservation as a public good.

The Act does not, however, create any limitations on private property ownership. Federal agencies, are obligated by the Act to identify, evaluate, and nominate to the NRHP any properties they deem eligible. In addition, any properties, including those privately owned, that receive Federal funding or involve Federal action or approval, are required to undergo a review intended to protect historic features, called a Section 106 Review, This review only encourages historic consideration and does not require it.

Wisconsin’s State Historic Preservation Office

Wisconsin’s State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) reviews all applications to the National Register (NRHP). This office is a resource for Wisconsin citizens to apply for the NRHP and will assist in the process.

 The SHPO will advise if the application is deemed eligible for the NRHP. If so, they will forward the application to the National Park Service (NPS), which administers the NRHP. Rarely will an application approved by the Wisconsin SHPO be denied by the NPS. Additionally, once the Wisconsin SHPO deems a property eligible, it is automatically considered eligible for the State Designation.

The State Register of Historic Places

The Wisconsin SHPO maintains the State Register of Historic Places. Being listed on the State Register of Historic Places does not place any restrictions on property owners. More information can be found at the SHPO website: “How to Get a State or National Historic Designation for Your Building.”

National Historic Landmark Status

In addition to the National Register of Historic Places, properties that are deemed having exceptional national significance may be listed as a National Historic Landmark (NHL). This is a separate process from a National Register nomination and is solely a federal process through the National Park Service. As of May 2021, there are currently 44 Wisconsin properties listed as NHLs compared to over 2,500 Wisconsin property listings in the NRHP.

Historic Preservation Commissions

On the local level, a municipal Historic Preservation Commission (or similar name), may review local properties for historic designation. Not every municipality will have a Historic Preservation Commission, depending on local ordinances. Restrictions on property, if locally designated as historic, will also vary by ordinance. Only a local designation, depending on the local law, could restrict property ownership. Typically, local governments with preservation ordinances confer the highest degree of protection to historic properties, as a review board will consider any proposed alterations to the property.

Historic Tax Credit Program

Two separate programs, administered by the Internal Revenue Service and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, are available to Federal and State designated properties, called the Historic Tax Credit Program. This is not available to properties that are only designated on a local register. This program offers a 20% Federal Tax Credit and a 20% State Tax Credit to income-producing properties.

Work to rehabilitate a historically designated building can be deducted as a tax credit. All work must meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and the property must be held by the owner for at least five years. Other requirements apply. While the Wisconsin SHPO will certify that rehabilitation work meets the Standards, they do not administer the tax credits. Further information may be found here: Tax Credits for Historic Income-Producing Buildings.

Please reach out to the Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation or the SHPO if you have further questions. We are here to help!

Read more: Importance of Preservation Highlighted in Upgrade of Frank Lloyd Wright School Building

The only public grammar school designed by Frank Lloyd Wright is currently undergoing restoration in Southwest Wisconsin. The Kenosha News recently highlighted the effort to preserve not only the building, but its use as an educational facility. Read a brief summary below and the full piece here: Watch now: Frank Lloyd Wright school building getting an upgrade for more events and programming (April 19, 2021).

Work on the Wyoming Valley School | Source: Steve Apps, State Journal

Students learn in the east classroom of the Wyoming Valley School | Source: Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center

The school opened in 1958 and served the River Valley School district until 1990. It has served as a Cultural Arts Center for the past 10 years and will reopen in 2022 after restoration is complete. In addition to a new roof, the chimney is being rebuilt, wooden window sashes repaired, and the foundation restored. The design includes ample natural light, exposed beams covered in mahogany, and a double-sided fireplace. More details may be viewed in the article’s embedded video.

Preservation has been shown to provide economic benefits to the area in which a historic building sits. In that spirit, nearly half of the project has been financed by a Community Development Investment grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Clearly, this is a Place That Matters.

Read the full article here.

Mid-Century Buildings Eligible for Historic Tax Credits

The following is excerpt from an article printed in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, April 1, 2021.

A recent article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel points out that buildings constructed in the 1950s and 60s are eligible for placement on the National Register of Historic Places. As these structures are over 50 years old they now meet one of the criteria for the registry. Recognition on the National Register makes a building eligible for state and federal historic preservation tax credits toward renovations.

Marshall & Ilsey Bank Building

Milwaukee, 770 N. Water Street

Mid-Century Becomes Historic

According to the article, of the “2,000 buildings listed by the [local] Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission, only a handful were built in the 20th century’s second half.” It is more common to think of buildings built before World War II as historic, but the architectural value of structures considered “mid-century”, or from the 50s and 60s, is also significant.

A number of downtown Milwaukee buildings are currently in the process of seeking historic designation, including the former Marshall & Ilsey Bank Building at 770 N. Water Street and the former St. Catherine’s Residence for Young Women at 1032 E. Knapp Street.

Milwaukee Buildings Looking for Historic Status

Other buildings, in recent years, have applied for local historic designation and been denied by the Common Council. The Marcus Center was determined to be ineligible for a number of reasons, primarily 1990s replacements of original materials, which removed architectural integrity. In December of 2020, the Forest Home Library was rejected for historic designation after a vigorous debate.

It is expected that more mid-century buildings will be considered for preservation and historic status. Reaching historic status would make the Mitchell Park Domes eligible for state and federal historic tax credits and aid in the financing of needed repairs. The Milwaukee County War Memorial Center is another excellent example of the city’s history that may be deserving of historic designation. According to Jeff Joseph, interviewed for the article, “If we lose the history of modern buildings, we lose the history of our innovation.” This is a strong reminder to all working to preserve Places the Matter. 

Read the full article on JSOnline

Contact House Representatives to Strengthen Historic Tax Credits

Urge your House Representative to cosponsor Historic Tax Credit improvement legislation!

Reprinted from National Trust for Historic Preservation Newsletter | April 5, 2021

On April 1, Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Darin LaHood (R-IL) introduced a new version of the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act (HTC-GO) in the House of Representatives. The legislation includes temporary tax provisions to bring relief to projects impacted by the pandemic, and contains permanent provisions that add value to the federal Historic Tax Credit (HTC), improve access to the credit, and increase investment in smaller rehabilitation projects. The introduction of companion legislation in the Senate is expected soon.

The HTC is a proven tax incentive for both revitalizing historic community assets and supporting economic development and recovery. Please contact your House Representative and encourage them to cosponsor the HTC-GO.

What’s in the new version of the HTC-GO legislation?

Temporary Provisions

Developers and building owners are experiencing challenges in rehabbing historic buildings. The financial markets have slowed to a crawl, making it difficult for projects to access capital and stalling complex historic real estate developments. The increased volatility in the market and project risk is forcing banking institutions to decrease their loan frequency and the overall amount while tightening underwriting requirements. Increases in material and construction costs and an uncertain tenant market have further impacted potential developments. As a result, many projects have stalled or are no longer feasible.

The HTC-GO legislation temporarily increases the rehabilitation credit (IRC § 47) to address projects impacted by the pandemic. 

• This provision increases the HTC percentage from 20% to 30% for 2020 through 2024. 

• The credit percentage is phased down to 26% in 2025, 23% in 2026, and returns to 20% in 2027 and thereafter. 

Permanent Provisions

The following provisions would make important changes to the HTC to encourage more building reuse and redevelopment nationwide and would be particularly impactful for small, midsize, and rural communities. These provisions would not only make the credit easier to use and more historic properties eligible, but it would also enhance the value of the HTC and make the credit easier to use to create affordable housing. 

• Increases the credit from 20% to 30% for projects with less than $2.5 million in qualified rehabilitation expenses, making it easier to complete small rehabilitation projects. 

• Lowers the substantial rehabilitation threshold, making more buildings eligible to use the HTC.

• Eliminates the requirement that the value of the HTC must be deducted from a building’s basis (property’s value for tax purposes), increasing the value of the HTC and making it easier to pair with the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.

• Makes the HTC easier to use by nonprofits for community health centers, local arts centers, affordable housing, homeless services, and others by eliminating IRS restrictions that make it challenging to partner with developers.

To get a fact sheet about HTC and HTC-GO, visit the Preservation Leadership Forum's Resource Library. 

Trust News: SHPO Historic Tax Credits Workshop

On March 26, the Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office held a virtual workshop for Historic Tax Credits. The following announced were issued during the event:

• 2021 WAHPC Virtual Spring Conference will be held virtually via Zoom April 23-24. Registration and full agenda on the WAHPC website

• The US Congress is considering a temporary increase in the federal tax credit from 20% to 30%

• A new museum for the Wisconsin Historical Society is moving forward

Liz Petrella from the National Park Service presented information about preparing a successful Federal Historic Tax Credit Application, emphasizing that, for now, all documents must be submitted as hard copies in duplicate. However, the NPS is planning to transition to electronic submissions in the future. The National Archives will not be accepting hard copy submissions after December 31, 2022.

Marc Zettler, also a Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation Board Member, gave a detailed presentation on how to properly conduct a window survey for a historic property, including a brief history of window types and glazing in the United States, how to evaluate existing conditions, the importance of photographic documentation, and how to consider repairs versus replacement within the Secretary of Interior standards.

The Trust works in tandem with the Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and supports their efforts and events like this workshop. With a vast array of resources and supporting personnel, the SHPO is considered be the primary resource for preservation efforts in the state. Visit the SHPO online for more details.

The Annual Report on the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program is here!

In March, the National Park Service released the Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2020 summarizing the year’s activity across the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program. The 20% Federal tax credit, coupled with Wisconsin’s 20% State historic tax credit, helps property owners rehabilitate historic buildings.

Governor’s Mansion Inn and Café. Madison, WI

Photo: David Waugh

The report includes a summary of select projects across the nation, including a showcase of the revitalized Governor’s Mansion Inn and Café in Madison, Wisconsin.

According to the report, Wisconsin approved 34 new projects in 2020 (based on approved Part 1 applications) and 22 project completions worth over $220 million in Federal rehabilitation tax credits. Wisconsin is 13th in the nation in the value of tax credits since 2016, an impressive standing when considering the size of our state. In addition to preserving historic places, preservation generates jobs and economic activity throughout Wisconsin.

Download the report below to read the state-by-state project activity summary highlighting estimated qualified rehabilitation expenditures and five year cumulative totals..

The Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program, administered by the National Park Service in partnership with the State Historic Preservation Offices, is the nation’s most effective program to promote historic preservation and community revitalization through historic rehabilitation.

New State Law Tinkers with Local Historic Preservation Policies

The Pinkus-McBride commercial building anchors a corner of a six-pointed intersection in Madison, and provides a sense of the neighborhood's history while a new apartment building rises behind it.

A new state law in Wisconsin places new provisions on local historic preservation ordinances, but does not include proposed changes that would have disabled the ability of cities, towns and counties to provide long-term protection for important historic places. We wrote about the proposed Bill here. 

The new law requires Wisconsin municipalities (counties, cities, towns) to hold a public hearing on any proposed historic designation for an individual property or historic district, and to notify all property owners about the public hearing by paper mail. The law also provides for an appeal process, by which any property owner who is "affected by a decision of" a Historic Preservation Commission may appeal the decision to the County or Town Board or city Council, who may overturn the Commission's designation by a simple majority vote.

The law leaves intact the ability of counties and towns to designate landmarks and historic districts under powers of zoning that have been affirmed by the US Supreme Court in several cases. It does, however, require changes to some municipal preservation policies that currently require a 3/4 super-majority vote of the Board or Council to overturn a decision of the Commission. It leaves intact the ability to designate historic properties over the objection of the current owner. This was perhaps the most critical provision of the proposed bill. We argue in a previous post that historic preservation is a long game, and that allowing any owner, no matter how briefly they own the property, to opt out of local historic guidelines would lead to the rapid erosion of historic places in many Wisconsin communities.

The Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation lobbied, alongside the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Milwaukee Preservation Alliance, other organizations, and several town mayors, for the wholesale removal of the section of the Bill dealing with local Historic Preservation laws. We were successful to the extent that the most dramatic provisions of the bill were amended before it became law.

newly old

Here are a few images of new additions to historic fabric that have us inspired on this snowy day...

---

1. CAAN Architecten / 2. Project Orange / 3. RPBW

4. unknown / 5. unknown / 6. E + N 

7.  Fidone /  8. Frei / 9. unknown